Construction on the Residences at Durango has finally begun after a groundbreaking ceremony at the former Best Western Inn & Suites on U.S. Highway 160 in west Durango on Friday.
The motel-to-apartments conversion is the first low-income tax credits development of its kind, and it’s also the largest affordable and low-income housing development in the region, Durango Housing Innovation Manager Eva Henson said at the ceremony.
Henson was joined by Durango Mayor Melissa Youssef and City Councilor Jessika Buell, La Plata County Commissioner Marsha Porter-Norton, developer TWG Development’s Vice President of Tax Credit Development Ryan Kelly, Jenn Lopez of Project Moxie and others to recognize and celebrate two years of hard and complicated work leading to Friday.
Youssef said the groundbreaking was symbolic of “the breaking of barriers and the creation of new opportunities.”
“As we celebrate today, let’s also remember that our work is far from over,” she said. “We need to continue to push for affordable housing initiatives to create more opportunities for housing, to ensure that everyone has a chance for a better life.”
The development, which is expected to be completed by or before next summer, will transform 72 motel rooms and build 48 new units across two new buildings for a total of 120 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartment units. The apartments will be reserved for renters only and target income earners making between 30% and 60% of the area median income.
“I can’t be more proud of this team for keeping it together,” Henson said. “The heavy work that has gone into this – the commitment, the passion, the advocacy and the coordination and collaboration – got us here today for this wonderful groundbreaking event.”
Youssef said the Residences at Durango is an incredible opportunity to help working people afford to live and thrive in the city.
“This project not only benefits those who will soon call it home, but it benefits the entire community by fostering economic growth, reducing homelessness and supporting the well-being of our residents,” she said.
The mayor said support from former Durango mayors Kim Baxter and Barbara Noseworthy was crucial to getting the project off the ground.
“Without the forward thinking of elected officials who are willing to take risks for the good of the community, we would not be here today,” she said.
Buell said Project Moxie worked to find the right developer for the project, which consisted of a public-private partnership between the city and TWG Development to secure the site and navigate a complicated financial structure.
She named and thanked a number of organizations that contributed to making the Residences at Durango a reality, including:
- La Plata County Commissioners and staff members for contributing their private activity bonds.
- Staff members from Sens. Hickenlooper and Bennet’s offices and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
- The Division of Housing, Department of Local Affairs and the Colorado Housing and Financing Authority, for their work on untangling the spaghetti bowl of grants, low-interest loans, private activity bonds and low-income housing tax credits.
- The Montezuma County Housing Authority for their bond allocation.
- The city’s Community Development, Engineering and Utilities departments, and the city attorney’s office, for facilitating the project reviews and ensuring transparency through the process.
- Project Moxie staff members and partners, including Cynthia Roebuck, Matt Lynn and Jenn Lopez.
“This property is the future home of over 250 community members in 120 units of permanent affordable housing,” Youssef said. “The property is served by Durango Transit and is less than 1 mile from downtown Durango.”
Buell said the Residences at Durango is being built for those who are most vulnerable to fluctuations in the housing market.
“These are also the people who work in local restaurants, retail stores, day cares, schools, nonprofits, construction, hospitals and other control sectors,” she said. “These are the community members who volunteer to coach soccer, who you go to church with. Who play music in the local band, volunteer with Durango Trails and who serve on the local PTAs.
“These are the individuals, couples and families who will thrive now that they are able to have stable and affordable housing. They can now save for college or buy more reliable vehicles or pay off medical debt. This project will change lives. And those changed lives will change our community.”
Kelly said affordable housing is hard to tackle, with many steps to success and many dominoes that have to fall at the right time. Initiative, tenacity and the belief in affordable housing are required to achieve it, and Durango has what it takes, he said.
“It’s the belief in affordable housing. We need it. We want it. We have to make it happen,” he said. “It just takes a lot of brain power … You guys have been phenomenal. And it makes me want to come back and do more affordable housing. The need is there.”
Porter-Norton said 75% of working people in the region commute to work. People travel from Aztec, Mancos, Farmington and Pagosa Springs to work in the city and county.
“There’s this shared interest here of having people work and live in the same community,” she said. “It enables them to have more time with their kids. More time to volunteer. More time to have some downtime after work. And so there’s all kinds of reasons that La Plata County had a shared interest in this. In addition to the fact that we know the lack of workforce and affordable housing is our No. 1 issue.
“ … I am very proud of Durango and very proud of La Plata County, and I can’t wait to drive by here and see people with their kids and see people living here, because that’s what we need,” she said.
cburney@durangoherald.com
